Mechanism for playing musical instruments.



I. B. SMITH..

MBOHANISM FOR PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1906. :y l. 927,692. v v Patented' July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS--SHEBT l.

I. B. SMITH. MECHANISM FOR PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOAIIION FILED FEB. 17, 1906.

Patented July 13, 1909.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. B. SMITH. MEGHANISM FOR PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 17, 1906. 927,692, Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED sTArEs PATENT ernten. N

, niviNii n. siii i'ri-i, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssiGNoR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS,

lO ELEWIREIJLE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION QF PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR PLAYING MUSICAL INSTR'QMENTS.

Specicatipn of Letters Patent. l

Patented July 13, 1909.

To all whom 'it may concern:

lie it known that l. IiiviNc. B. SMITH, a

citizen ot thc lhiitcd-States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andht'atc of lcnnsylif'auia, have invented new and usciul Improvements in hilechanism `For llaying Musical Iiisiri iincnts,'of which the following is a spcciii lation.

MyMinvcnt-ion hasl relation to mechanism for playing musical instruments, in "whichv thc incchaiiisin for operating the sound-producing devices ot' the instrument, such as thc hammers ol thc piano, is located within the upper part ot' the piano casing; that is to say, in an uprightor what is known as a Vei'tcgi'ande piano, in that part of the casingabove the keyboard of the .insti,uinent; and which mechanism is designed to be controlled by perforated unisic-shcet niechan- ,ism of any Well known type, situated in any my invention has for its object, first: to so arrange the mechanism for operating the sound-producing devices of the-instrument which mechanism for brevity, will* be termed layer mechanism in the upper poi-tion o the casing referred to that, Without in any wise disorganizing such mechanism or Without disconnecting it, orfany eleincur of it, froml its incorporation in or with 40 the instrument, the layer-mechanism may be shifted to ador ready access to the strings ot' the instrument, for the purposes mentioned, or `for other purpose. l

The invention has for-a further "object a novel arrangement of phrasing levers combincd `with a phrasing or' expression device,

supported by the player-,mechanism carrier.

The invention also has for its object the provision V- of means combined With .the eX- pression, controlling device whereb such device may, be manipulated'manua ly egt thewill of theoperator, or ,may be set-in'xed,

expression. t

selective position to maintain anyidesired lperspective view ot' one The invention, finally, has for its object the' in'iprovement in the arrangement and manner ot' mounting the armatures of the nnignctsgwhich control the operation of the shoes that actuate the sound-producing devices oi. the instrument. Y

In illustratingr my invention., I have shown it in connection wit-hne known type of soninl-producing devices ot a musical instrument situated within the upper part of the piano casing, and 4wil'l briefly refer to so unich of such example of sound-producingI devices, as will ali'ord a clear understanding ot the invention` without, however,- intending to limit myself thereto.

My invention is not concerned with any particular type of sound producing devices, but rather with thi` new arrangement of player mechanism and accessories.

Having in view the foregoing objects, my invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, reference heilig had to the accompanying' drawings for illustration. l ln'said drawings-Figure l is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 2 is an elevation; Fig. 3 is a perspective. view; and liig.` It is e detail hinged blocks. i

I n the said drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates, generally, the, upper art of an upright piano casing above the {eyboard thereof; 2 the upper member of the string plate ot the instrument, and 3 .the removable t'ront board. Within this portion of the casing, as usual, is located the soundproducing devices,siich as strings 4, and the hammers 5 ainl co-related mechanism, known in the art as the action, for causing thc hammers to strike the strings. A portion only of such mechanism is shown, and that conventionally. In the parts illustrated the reference numeral G designates one of the wippens of the action, which has connection 7 with one of the keys of the key-board, in the usual or well-known manner, land which operates the hammer in the usual or well known maimer. 1

The player-meelianism to which my invention relates, is supported upon or from a carrier which is arranged to be shifted toget'her with the elci'nent's ot' the player mechanism darried thereby, and without the necessity ot' disconnecting any ot the'parts il l ot the armature-f be further referred to.

of the player mechanism, away from in front of the string-plate of the. instrument` to afford access to the latter for the purpose of timing the instrument, or for introduction of new strings, or for other purpose. This carrier and the player mechanism supported thereby consist of a body 8 having at its opposite ends legs 9 connected together preferably by means of set-screws 10, threaded into the legs and passing through elongated` slots 11 in the arm. This arrangement alfords facility ofadjusting the carrier in fitting it, and the elements carried thereby, to"'the sound-producing devices of the instrument. at 12 on pivot studs projecting from plates 13 connected to the side boards of the piano casing, preferably by means of wood-screws 14e, whereby the player mechanism may be incorporated Within the casing without damage to the latter and with a minimum of addition to the said casing'. The carrier shown is capable of being shifted away from the string-plate of the instrument7 as before referred to, and one suitable arrangementis shown, wherein the pivotal connection of the carrier 8 to the supporting plates 125 is through the medium of the legs 9, below the longitudinal median of the, carrier, whereby such carrier, and the player mechanism earried thereby, may be swung downwardly away from the string-plate and in the general direction toward the keyboard as illustrated in the dotted lines, Fig. 1,' with the distinct advantage set forth, and which will The carrier is'held in operative relation to the strings and the action by a suitable keeper, shown as setscr'ews 15 passing through the legs 9 and into engagement with the plates 13. These screws maybe readily removed when it is desired to shift the carrier.

The arm extends across the piano casing in front of the strings and above the action of the instrument, and connected thereto is a magnet rail 16, upon which is arranged a series of electro-magnets 17 preferably arranged in pairs, each pair, together with the mechanism associated therewith, as hereinafter described, being appropriated `to a given string of the instrument. I

The arniatures 18 of the magnets are pivoted to hinge blocks 19 one of which is shown in deiail in Fig. 4l. For the purpose ofpositioning the armatures with accuracyvin proper relation to the elect roinagnets, a hinge block bar 2() is'provided, in the illustrated instance of the invention consisting of a ledge or' shoulder connected to or formed with carrier S. This hinge block base is in such position with relation to the electroniagnets that, when the hinge blocks are fitted thereon, and connected thereto, as by means of screws 21, the armatures, when hinged oi' pivoted to said blocks, as by means The legs 9 are pivoted of pivot pins 22, passing through said blocks and armatures, will be in exactly proper. relation to the magnets for accurate operation therewith. Pivotally connected to saddles 23 at the free ends of the armatures are Vshoes 24 which, when the rarmatures are attracted by the magnet coils (the latterA are selectively energized by mechanism controlled by note perforations in a music sheet, which mechanism and sheet may be of any known suitable typeand which are not shown herein as niy inventionis not concerned therewith) are paused to come intoenga` 'ement with a prime actuator consisting o a constantly rotatinv roll 25 vjournaled in hangers 26 dependging from the carrier 8. This prime actuator as s hown is of conical formation, whereby its surface speed gradu ally increases from its smaller to its larger end. It is arranged so that its smaller end vcoopera-tes with -the shoes that actuate the sound-producing devices appropriated .to the bass notes of the instrument, and with its larger end for cooperation with the shoes appropriated to' the sound-producing devices of the treble notes. The purpose of this formation is to normally cause the hammers to strike the strings with yprogressively increased force from the lowest bass to the highest treble note.

The prime actuator is constantly driven by means, of any suitable motor which may be situated in any convenient position and which is shown conventionally at 27, through convenient transmitting devices, shown as a pulley 28 on the motor shaft, geared by a prime actuator.

The shoes are connected to the action ofy the instrument, for instancewt'o the wippens G which operate the hammers 5, by flexible connections, such as tapes 3l. The tapes may be attached to the shoes and wippens conveniently by means-of clips 32. This inode of connecting the tapes to the wippens is desirable in that the connection may be made without in any wise altering the wippens. When the shoes 24.A are made to contact with the constantly-rotating prime actuator, they arecaused to oscillate, pull upon the appropriate tapes 30, and operate .the

corresponding hammers, in the illustratedexample of the invention through theenedium of the wippens 6.

' As before described, the carrier 8 is so arranged that it may be shifted by a forwardly or outwardly falling movement from Aits operative position to'gitfford ready access to the string-plate of the instrument, Without disconnecting any element. of the layer mechanism or the connection thereof) with the action of the instrument. This is accomplished by pivoting the carrier below its longitudinal median line. The degree of falling movementI of the carrier is increased 'to provide greater facility of access to the -js'tring plate by extending the legs 9 considl "erahly below the player mechanism supi lso The carrier so pivoted, and all the mechanism supported therehy may he swung away fromI in front ot the string plate, and downward or ina general direction toward the piano keys. This operation is permitted hy reason of the tlexihle character ot' the connections 31, and is of great advantage for the reasons hereinhefore stated.

In prior arrangements of the general type indicated when itbecame necessary for any reason to move the carrier and the mechanismV supported thereby for t-he purpose of getting at the strings of' the instrument, it was essential also to disconnect theconnecis a tedious and time-consuming operation involving as it does the act ot' disconnect-ing each of the several connecting mediums and the suhseqnent connection thereof to make the player mechanism again operative. According to my invention, the player mechanism may he. shifted out: of the way to afford access to the strings of the instrument wit-h.- out disconnection ot' any part thereof with the action of the instrument. I contemplate also, the incorporation with the carrier, so as to partake of the movements thereof, of expression mechanism wherehy any stringI of the instrument may he caused to strike. as softly or loudly as desired within the capac ity of thel instrument. lt is desirable and ot advantagel that this expression 'mechanism may he controlled hy linger lreys located at the fronti of the instrument within easy reach of the operator.l To this end a llcxihle har 33', preferably consisting of a plurality of sections, is arranged to operatie against the hammers to position them at a greater o1l lesser distance t'rom the strings of the instrument. l'hc tone produced hy the hammers depends upon the length of stroke ot the hammers. heing softer when the hammer has/a minimum stroke "and increasing in Avolume according to the increase ot length lof the. hammer stroke. The flexible har may Ahe manipulated so'as to hring either of its ends or its central portion, and the hammers associated therewith, to or away from the from the strings.

strings for the purpose of securing desired expression. 'lhe manipulation is' accom,- pllshed hy mounting the har at and interme diate its endsl in `crank arms 34, 35, 36, from shafts 37, 38, 39, journaled in hearings 40 with which the carrier Slis provided` wherehy when one or moreor all of'said shafts are rotated, the corresponding part or parts, or the entire har may he moved to or away The sha tts are rocked hy means of rods 41 severally appropriated thereto andy connected to crank tions between the shoes and the action. This l which the shafts are provided, which rods are attached Iat their lower ends to expression-levers -fl-l pivoted to brackets 44, secured he'neath the kevhoard ot the inst-rmnent,- which expression-levers and the rods connected thereto may he normally held in predetermined position, such for instance,as to impartl pianissimo expression, by means ot springs 4.7 connected to said levers and the brackets ft-l. As the expression-levers exert a direct action upon the crank ar'rns to rock the shafts, the rods are necessarily rigid in operatim. ln order to permit the carrier and its contained mechanism, including the expression har7 to he swung downward and away'trom the piano 'strings as ahove dei scriherh] interposc a hinge 46 in each rod,

and provide sleeves to cover the hinges.

When the sleeves areadjusted to uncover the hinges the rods may move ahout the latter to admit of the descrihed shittinglof the carrier, and when covered hy the sleeves the rods are made rigid for rocking the' shafts 34, 35, 3o. Stops 47 are provided on the rods adjacent the hinges to support the sleeves when in position to cover the hinges. n It is of .great advantage that the expression levers 425 he capahle of free manipula-v tion manually at the will ofthe operator, during' the )laying ot' a musical composition to accentuate ormodulatc lditl'crent notes or passages, and also that said levers may heset in any desired 'position to produce desired expression, and maintained in that/position, as forv example, when the operatorl does not care to manipulate the levers, or'

when itl is desired to permit the player mechanism to operate entirely ai|t'(mlatieally, as tor dance music at small gatherings Where. all thegucsts desire. to participate in, the; dance. l accomplish this hy comhining with the tree ends ot the levers a rack t8 having slots or passages -ttt in whichthe levers move. One wall ot each slot' is provided with a series ot rests consisting' of teeth 50 with interveningspar-cs, and in the preferred and illustrated arrangement, the levers are provided with catches-51 provided thereto aty one side thereof and normally moving in front ot the rests, so that the i'ree manual manipulation ol' the levers is not interfered with; \Vhcn it is desired to lset the levers to'ohtain desired expression, the ends 52 of the catches are moved, rocking the catches and throwing the ends 53 thereo't into engagement4 with any desired rest 50. W hen so in engagement with the rests the catches hold the leversin set position. lt is ohvious that the lever controlling the hass notie expressionmay he set; to piano, that. controlling the middle notes to torte and the trehle note lever to fortissimo; or that other variation of' set expression may he secured. The catches shown are arranged to automatically arms 42 with release themselves upon depression 'ot thev 130 levers, the increased gravity of the ends 52 operating to swing the ends 53 out of engagement with the rests 50. The action of gravity for this purpose may be assisted or replaced by springs 54. In the embodiment of the arrangement shown the catches, when made to engage the rests, remain in such engagement until the levers are depressed, because of the action of the springs 45, which, by their action on the levers 13, hold the ends 53 of the catches against the teeth 50 and prevent the ends 52 from releasing the engagement until the levers are depressed;

' I contemplate driving the music sheet take-up roll ot' the music roll holder directly from the prime actuator, materially simplifying the arrangement. As such music roll holders are known I do not illustrate in detail, but show nly conventionally one end of a shaft 55 involved in driving the latter. For the purpose stated a flexibleshaft 56, connected to the shaft for driving the same, is coupled to the prime actuator 25 and imparts rotation therefrom to the said shaft 55. The flexibility of the shat't permits of the shifting of the prime actuator 25l together with the carrierv and also the shifting of shaft 55, as may be desired in regulating the speed of rotation of the take-up' roll.

'Ha'ving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to 'secure byv Letters Patent is l. The combination with an upright piano the act-ion of Which'is in the upper part of the casing, of piano-playin mechanism located in :the upper part o the easing., means for connecting said mechanism with the action of the instrument', a carrier supporting said playing mechanism and movable from in front of the strings of the piano without disconnection ot' the playing mechanism from the action.

2. The combination with a piano in which a member of the string-plate and actionare located in the upper part of the easing, ot a player-mechanism carrier, means t'or movably supporting said carrier within the piano casin whereby it may be moved toward and rom the string-plate, playing mechan: ism supported by the carrier, and means connecting Isaid mechanism with the piano action..

3. The combination With an upright piano having an. action located in the upper part oit' the casing lthereof, of player-meehanism arranged in the upper part ot' the casing, fiexible means connecting` said mechanism with the action, and. a carriei supporting said mechanism sliittable from in 'trent ot' the string-plate ot' the instrument without disconnecting the player-mechanism from the action.

4. The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper partof the easinglof player mechanism located in the upper part ot the casing of the instrument, means connect ing said mechanism with the action, and a carrier supported by said player mechanism, said carrier pivoted .to swing away trom the string-plate of the instrument andV in the direction toward the keyboard whereby access may be had to the strings of the instrument without disconnecting the player-mechanism from the action.

5. The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper part ot' the casing,'of player-mechanism arranged in the upper part of the casing, means connecting said mechanism'- with the action, and a carrier supporting said player mechanism and pivoted to swing away from the stringplate of the instrument and in the direction toward the keyboard, whereby access may be had to the strings ofthe instrument Without disconnecting the player mcchanisn'i from the action, and means for maintaining said carrier and'player mechanism in operative position with? relation to the action.

6. The combination with an uinight piano having an action located in the upper part of the casing thereof. o't' a carrier pivotally connected in the upper part o't the casing, player mechanism supported by said carrier, Hexible means connecting? said pla-yer mechanism to the action, and meansl t'or pivoting said carrier at a point below the player mechanism supported thereby, whereby said carrier and the player mechanism may be swung away 'from the strings bt the lpiano and iii the direction toward the keyboard, without disconnecting the player mechanism from .the action.

7. vThe combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper partl of the casing, ot a carricn/arrauged in the upper part of the casing, and means for pivoting the carrier to swing on an axis located 'below the longitudinal median .line of the carrier, player'mechanism supported by said carrier, and means for connecting Isaid meehanisin with the action.

8 The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper part ot the casing. ot' a carrier arranged in the upper part of the casing, means for pivoting the carrier to swii'ig on an axis located below the longitudinal median line oft' the carrier, player-mechanism supported byv ,said carrier, and flexible means for connecting said mechanism with the action. a

9. The combination with an upght piano having an action Ilocated in the upper part ot' the casing,- of a carrier arranged in 'the upper part of the casing, means for pivotingthe carrier to swing on an axis located below `the longitudinal median line ol the` carrier, player-mechanism supported by said carrier, means tor connecting 'isaid mechanism with the action, and releasablemeans lormainlaoA .the upper part of the casing, .means toi' pivoting the carrier to swing on an axis located below the longitudinal median line of the carrier, player-mechanism supported by said carrier, flexible means for connecting' said mechanism with the action, and releasable means for maintaining said carrier and the mechanism supported thereby in operative position.

l1. The combination with an upright piano ha ving the action located in the upper part of the casing thereof, of a carrier located in the casing above the action and pivoted beneath its longitudinal median line,

player mechanism supported by said carrier,

and means connecting said vmechanism With theactioii.

l2. The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper part of the casing thereof, of a carrier-in the upper part ot' the easing having depending legs pivoted at their lower endsb player mechanism supported `by said carrier, and means connecting said mechanism with the action.

13. rlhe combination with. an upright piano having an action located inthe upper part oi the casing thereof, of a carrier in the upper part ot the easing having depending legs mechanism supported by said carrier, means connecting said mechanism with the action, and means for maintaining ythe carrier and player mechanism in operative position.

lll.. The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper.

part of the casing thereof, of a carrier,

playeranechanisin supported by said carrier, means t'or connecting said mechanism to the action, said carrier being shit'table away from the string-plate et' the instrument, and in the direction toward the keyboard, an ex pressi-011 devicesupported by said carrier, expression-levers, rods intermediate said le vers and expression device, and hinges in said rods.

15. The combination with an upright piano having an action located in the upper part oi the casing4 thereof, of a carrier, player-mmhanism supported by said carrier, moans tor connecting said mechanism to the action, said lcarrier being shiftablo aivay trom the stringplate ot the insti'unn-.nt and in the direction toward the keyboard` an eX- prcssion device supported by said carrier, expressionlevers, rods intermediate said levers and expression device, hinges in said rods, and means combined with said hinges whereby the rods may be maintained rigid.

lo. The combination with an upright pivoted at their lower ends, player' piano having an action located in the upper part of the casing thereof, of a carrier, player-mechanism supported by said carrier, means for connecting said mechanism to the action, said carrier being shit'table away from the string-plate of the instrument and in the direction toward the keyboard, an expression device supported by said carrier,

expression-levers, rods 'intermediate said levers and expression device, hinges in said rods, and sleeves combined with said hinges `for ther purpose set forth.

17. The combination With an `upright piano, the action of which is in the upper part of the casing thereof, of piano playing mechanism including a prime actuator 1ocated in the upper part of the piano casing,V means tor connecting said niechanisinwithv the action of the instrument, 'a music sheet take-up roll, and a tiexible shaft deriving movement t'rom the prime actuator tor operating the said take-u roll, Y v v I 18. The combination With an upright piano the action of Which is in the upper part of the casing thereof, of piano-playing mechanism, including a prime actuator located in the upper part of the casing, means for connecting said mechanism with the action of the instrument, a music sheet takeiip roll, means deriving movement from said prime actuator for operating the said takeup roll, and a carrier supporting said playing mechanism movable from in front of the strings of the piano without disconnecting the playing mechanism from the action, or the driving means for the said take-up roll. f

--l9. The combination with an upright piano, the action of which is in the upper part of the casing thereof, of piano playing mechanism including aiinic actuator l0- catedA in the. upper part o the casing, means for connecting said "mechanism, with the action of thel instrument, a. music sheet takeup roll, a tlexible shaft deriving movement said take-up roll, and a carrier supporting said lplaying mechanism movable from in front ot the strings f the piano Without disconnecting the playing mechanism from the action nor the driving means tor the said take-ii p roll. i .20. The combination with an upright;-

piano ha ving an action located in the upper part ot the casing thereof, of a carrier,

player mechanism supported by said'carrier,`

means t'or connecting said mechanism to the action, said carrier being arranged to be shifted away from the string-plate of the piano ai-ul'toivard the keyboard, an expression device supported by said carrier, operating levers therefor, and operative connections between said levers and "expression, device.

2l. The combination with an uprighttrom the prime actuator for operating the iso piano the action of which is in the upper part of the casing, of pianoplaying mechanism located in the upper part of the casing, means connecting said mechanism with the' action of the instrument, a pair of swinging brackets pivotally connected within the piano casing, and a carrier for the playing mechanism supported at its opposite ends upon said brackets, the construe tion and arrangement of parts bcingsu"ch that the carrier and playing mechanism may be moved from infront of thestlings of the piano without disconnection of the playing mechanism from action'.

2Q. The combination with an upright piano the act-ion of which is in the upper part'of the casing; of piano-playing inechanism located in the upper part of the casing',y means connecting said mechanism with the action of the piano, a carrier supporting said playing mechanism, comprising a body 8, having legs 9, at its opposite ends and means for pivotally mounting the carrier within the piano casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRVING B. SMITH.

Vitnesses:

lnoims J. Mnonsw, Thum' It. (lcooiilfonn. 

